Pringle Bay

Pringle Bay is a laid back coastal village, situated in the Kogelberg UNESCO World Heritage Nature Reserve, between Gordon’s Bay and Hermanus. This village still retains its exquisite remoteness, so it is a favourite weekend getaway for pressured city dwellers. Today, more young families have moved in, as with internet access, many businesses can be run remotely. A creative community have also made Pringle Bay home, adding to the unique charm of the town.

And why is Pringle Bay a special gem? Beautiful sunsets, top-rated restaurants, unspoiled nature, and proximity to a host of eco-activities, are all magnets to visitors. And then you can reach Pringle Bay from Cape Town, just an hour away, along Clarence Drive, a stunning coastal road.

The silver beaches are popular with surfers and the rock pools provide great entertainment for families and divers. The rocks along the shoreline ideal for fishing, and anglers are spoiled for choice with all the fishing spots along this part of the coast. In the summer crayfish season, you can obtain a permit for 4 crayfish a person, a day…..delicious! For deep sea fishing, there is a boat launching facility at Maas Bay, 6km away.

There is a small lagoon where the Buffels River enters the sea, with clear and warm water, and a good spot for small children to paddle, splash, swim, run, play games and build sand castles.

From June to December, the whales are in the bay, mating and calving, so close you can almost touch them. Of course, dolphins visit year round, frolicking in the waves.

Close by is the Harold Porter Botanical Gardens, a great environment to enjoy tea or lunch, or take a hike, and the Penguin Reserve at Stony Point, where you can get up close and personal with Jackass Penguins.

The village has some quaint shops, a cookie factory and excellent restaurants. Pringle Bay has long been dubbed the cuisine capital of the Overberg, and for a very good reason! Some of the restaurants have won awards, or been featured on TV programs and in magazines – each filling its own niche, with a variety of top quality meals, in a beautiful and tranquil setting.

Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve is Cape Nature Conservation’s prettiest reserve. It is considered the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom. There are a number of excellent trails for the fitter hiker, through rugged mountainous territory, of pristine rivers, pools and fynbos. There are also some easier hikes around Pringle Bay for those who just wish to take in the views and have a good time out in nature.

Some adrenalin activities include sandboarding at Betty’s Bay or white river rafting and tubing in Kleinmond.